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Design Interactive Announces Method To Predict Onset Of Cybersickness

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Design Interactive, Inc. (DI) is excited to announce their Predictive Cybersickness Index (PSCI) is now available to help virtual reality content developers avoid the long lasting, maladaptive after effects. DI will be discussing and demonstrating the PSCI at the I/ITSEC trade show in Orlando, November 28 to December 2 at booth 1721.

Virtual Reality (VR) provides immersive, realistic, 3-D experiences for use in entertainment, simulation, training and the next generation of social media platforms. However, cybersickness, with associated nausea, disorientation, tiredness, and headaches is still an obstacle to widespread VR adoption.

Approximately 10% of the population are very susceptible to cybersickness and more than 75% are susceptible to some degree of discomfort and disorientation in virtual environments. Following exposure, alterations to balance, hand-eye coordination, and visual changes may occur and last for hours to days.

The PSCI predicts the onset of cybersickness. DI's Chief Scientist Dr. Brent Winslow states that the PSCI can "predict with 90% accuracy whether a subject will experience subjective and objective symptoms of cybersickness in the next minute of VR exposure." The patent pending PCSI can be used to evaluate any VR experience. Use of this algorithm can lead to individualized recommendations for break and exposure schedules, and guide content development maximizing immersion while minimizing risk.

Dr. Kay Stanney, DI CEO and cybersickness expert, is proud to offer the PSCI along with other services to military and entertainment industries. Given the expected explosion of virtual reality in the consumer market by 2020 and its continued expansion in amusement parts, she says the PSCI will "allow for mitigation of the user's experience before cybersickness onset, thus having a positive impact on the quality of VR experience for the majority of users."

Learn more about PCSI and other DI projects by checking out the DI blog.